Top Designers Debate the Future of the Automobile at 2009 Los
Angeles Auto Show

LOS ANGELES - November 11, 2009: Are cars becoming mundane
transportation or does the future hold an exciting and innovative new era
in auto design? This is one of many questions being addressed by a panel of
prominent auto designers during the Los Angeles Auto Show on Dec. 3.

Daniel Lyons, Newsweek's Technology Editor, will moderate a revealing
discussion with a renowned group of designers including Ian Callum,
director of design at Jaguar Cars; Derek Jenkins, director of design at
Mazda North American Operations and Franz von Holzhausen, chief designer at
Tesla Motors. Lyons will examine with this notable group of automotive
design leaders how new market conditions, tougher environmental regulations
and changing consumer preferences will ultimately impact what consumers
drive in the future.

During this special Newsweek presented forum, controversial topics
surrounding the future of automotive design will be debated. A few of the
many questions to be asked include: Will the quest for better fuel economy
make all cars look like aerodynamic variations of each other, or will new
technology allow for design breakthroughs? Will the visceral experience of
driving be lost forever or simply replaced with a different but equally
stirring experience? The panel promises to be an honest and eye-opening
look into the future of the automobile.

"Ultimately auto designers need to overcome market challenges with
innovative design solutions," says Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los
Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc. "The automotive industry is
at a turning point with environmental and economic conditions on one side
and breakthrough technology on the other, so it will be fascinating to see
how these design leaders envision the future."

"The panel discussion is part of the of the Sixth Annual Design Los
Angeles automotive designer's conference taking place during the LA Auto
Show's second press day and then kicking off the 10 day consumer show from
Dec 4-13, 2009.

About the Panelists

Ian Callum, Director of Design at Jaguar Cars
Acknowledged as one of the world's foremost design talents, Ian Callum has
been designing cars for top automakers including Ford, Mazda and Volvo for
more than three decades. A truly global designer, he is perhaps most famed
for his involvement in the design of the Aston Martin DB7 and Aston Martin
Vanquish. Callum joined Jaguar in 1999 and is credited with leading the
next-generation of design direction for Jaguar including the 2006 Jaguar
XK, the 2008 XF and the latest version the XJ.

Derek Jenkins, Director of Design, Mazda North American Operations
As director of design, Derek Jenkins oversees a staff of 25, which pushes
creative boundaries as they develop advanced ideas for Mazda's next
generations of vehicles. In his previous position as chief of design for
Volkswagen Group North America, Jenkins was responsible for numerous
concept and production vehicles including the Audi A2, A8, Volkswagen
Scirocco concept, the Microbus design study and the half-car,
half-motorcycle GX3 concept revealed at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Franz von Holzhausen, Chief Designer at Tesla Motors
Franz von
Holzhausen serves as chief designer of Tesla Motors, Inc. and is
responsible for leading Tesla Motors into the highly competitive world of
electric vehicles, in addition to driving its design direction. Von
Holzhausen previously served as director of design at Mazda Research and
Development, where he oversaw the design and development of all concept and
production vehicles for Mazda North America, such as the acclaimed Nagare
and Furai concept cars.

About the Moderator Daniel Lyons, Technology Editor at Newsweek
Dan Lyons is Newsweek's Technology Editor and the creator of a leading
technology blog, The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs. Over the past 25 years has
written for a wide range of publications including Forbes, The New York
Times Magazine, GQ and many technology trade publications. Lyons is also
the author of an award-winning collection of short stories called "The Last
Good Man" and two novels, "Dog Days" and "Options: The Secret Life of Steve
Jobs."